Archive

Fourteen Ontario Athletes Named to Team Canada for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Three women and 11 men from Ontario will represent Canada in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in Tokyo

As the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held their Closing Ceremony last Sunday to signal the end of the 17-day global affair, inevitably, for those in the parasport community, the countdown began for our signature event – the Paralympic Games!

Over the past month, the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) has been announcing the rosters for all 18 sports in which Canada will be competing in Tokyo. Now that all teams have been named, the Ontario Para Network would like to formally recognize and celebrate the 14 Ontario athletes who will be competing in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis.

Wheelchair Tennis

Rob Shaw (North Bay, ON) is the sole wheelchair tennis athlete representing Canada in Tokyo. Coming off his gold medal performance at the Lima 2019 Parapan Am Games, Rob is currently ranked 9th in the world in the Quad division. His results in Lima made him the first Canadian tennis player, stand-up or wheelchair, to win a medal in singles at a multi-sport Games. The five-time national quad singles champion will be making his Paralympic debut, along with 54 other Canadian first-time Paralympians. Rob currently resides in Kelowna, BC where he is working towards his PhD in Health & Exercise Sciences while balancing his training and competition schedule. The first round of the quad singles division begins on Saturday August 28.

Wheelchair Basketball

Ontario will be well-represented on the basketball court with seven athletes named to Team Canada between both the men’s and women’s sides.

Tamara Steeves (Mississauga, ON) will be making her 3rd Paralympic Games appearance, having first competed with the squad at the London Games in 2012. The 31 year-old veteran will be joined by her Team Ontario teammates Melanie Hawtin (Oakville, ON) and Puisand Lai (Toronto, ON). Hawtin, best known for her speed on the court, has been working hard to return to form following shoulder surgery in 2019. Having missed the recent Parapan Am Games, Tokyo 2020 will mark her return to international competition and will be her 2nd Paralympic Games experience. Making her Paralympic debut is rising star Puisand Lai. Recently having celebrated her 21st birthday, Lai is the youngest athlete on the Canadian women’s team. She has been on the Senior Women’s National Team since 2018 and was part of the squad that captured gold at the 2019 Parapan Am Games in Lima, along with Steeves. The women begin their Paralympic campaign on Wednesday August 25 where they will face Great Britain in their first game of pool play.

On the men’s side, Tokyo 2020 will mark the Paralympic Games return of Patrick Anderson (Fergus, ON). The four-time Paralympic medalist, World Champion, and ‘Greatest of All Time’ took a brief hiatus after London 2012 to pursue personal and professional endeavours beyond sport. He returned to the fold in 2017 and has since been leading and mentoring the younger athletes on the team and looking to help Team Canada get back on the podium. Joining Anderson is long-time teammate Tyler Miller (Kitchener, ON). Miller was part of the gold medal winning team at the London 2012 Games. He will be looking to bring his veteran experience to Tokyo for his 3rd Games. Making their Paralympic debuts are Toronto athletes Lee Melymick and Blaise Mutware. Both got their start in wheelchair basketball with their local club, the Variety Village Rolling Rebels, before making the jump to the full-time training environment of the National Training Centre in Toronto. Additionally, both were part of 2019 Parapan Am Games team that earned silver in Lima, Peru, along with Anderson and Miller. The men will play their first game of the Paralympic tournament on Wednesday August 25 against Spain.

Wheelchair Rugby

Half of the 12-person Canadian wheelchair rugby Paralympic roster hails from the province of Ontario. Patrice Dagenais (Embrun, ON) will be leading the team as co-captain alongside fellow veteran player Trevor Hirschfield (Parksville, BC). Dagenais will be making his 3rd Games appearance and is among the nine athletes who will be returning from the Rio 2016 squad. He will be joined by long-time National Team member and five-time Paralympian Mike Whitehead (Windsor, ON). Whitehead, 45, was recently elected to the CPC’s Athletes’ Council, and has embraced his role as mentor with the younger athletes on the team over the past few years. He continues to share his knowledge and experiences both on and off the court, and is a well-respected ambassador for the sport of wheelchair rugby. Also from the Rio 2016 team are Travis Murao (Toronto, ON), and Cody Caldwell (Peterborough, ON). Murao is another long-standing member of he National Team Program, having made his Paralympic debut in Beijing in 2008. This will be Caldwell’s 2nd Paralympic appearance.

Rounding out the squad are Eric Furtado-Rodrigues (Mississauga, ON) and Shayne Smith (Toronto, ON), two of the three first-time Paralympians on the team. Both athletes joined the National Team Program in 2017 and have since represented Canada at other international events like the 2019 Parapan Am Games and 2018 World Championships, but this will be their first time donning the red and white on the world’s biggest stage. Smith, 33,  comes from a long career in parasport, having played a variety of sports from a young age. He grew up primarily playing wheelchair basketball and went on to represent Canada at the U23 World Championships before eventually transitioning to wheelchair rugby at the age of 25. Furtado-Rodrigues, on the other hand, grew up playing able-bodied sports before his accident in 2009. It was during his recovery that he discovered wheelchair rugby, which eventually led to aspirations of representing Canada at the international level.

In addition to the six Ontario athletes on the roster, wheelchair rugby legend and five-time Paralympian Dave Willsie (Dorchester, ON) will be making his Paralympic coaching debut as the Assistant Coach with Team Canada. Currently ranked 5th in the world, Canada is looking to improve on its 4th place finish in Rio. Their opening game in Tokyo is scheduled for Wednesday August 25 against Great Britain.

Finally, ONPARA would also like to give special mention to Ontario athletes and coaches heading to Tokyo and competing outside of the sports we govern. Ottawa Stingers wheelchair rugby athlete Brianna Hennessy (Ottawa, ON) qualified for the Paralympic Games in para-canoe less than two years after taking up the sport. She will be competing in the VL2 classification. Cruisers Sports athlete Jessica Lewis, a T53 wheelchair racer, will be heading to her 3rd Paralympic Games and representing her home country of Bermuda. She will be coached by Curtis Thom (Mississauga, ON), himself a three-time Paralympian and Paralympic bronze medalist. Also from Cruisers Sports, coaches Ken Hall and Lisa Myers (Brampton, ON) will be heading to Tokyo as part of the Athletics Canada coaching staff.

ONPARA is proud of all its Paralympic athletes and wishes them and their respective teams the best of luck in Tokyo!

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games officially begin on Tuesday August 24. Comprehensive coverage will be provided by the Canadian Paralympic Committee at paralympic.ca. Live coverage will be available through the Canadian Paralympic Media Consortium, including broadcast partners CBC/Radio-Canada, AMI, and Sportsnet, and digital partners Twitter, Facebook, and MXZN. The complete broadcast schedule will be announced closer to the start of the Games.

Sources:

• Wheelchair Basketball Team Announcement: https://paralympic.ca/news/canadian-wheelchair-basketball-teams-announced-tokyo-2020-paralympic-games
• Wheelchair Rugby Team Announcement: https://paralympic.ca/news/canadas-wheelchair-rugby-team-announced-tokyo-2020-paralympic-games
• Wheelchair Tennis Team Announcement: https://paralympic.ca/news/rob-shaw-represent-canada-wheelchair-tennis-tokyo-paralympic-games
• Canadian Paralympic Team Tokyo 2020 Athlete Rosters: https://paralympic.ca/news/canadas-paralympians-are-here-128-athletes-named-canadian-roster-tokyo-2020-paralympic-games

About the Ontario Para Network

Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.

Research Study: Sport Specialization in Disability Sport

Sport Specialization in Disability Sport: A Retrospective Narrative Approach

Early sport specialization in childhood and early adolescence continues to gain in popularity despite its well-known physiological and psychosocial health risks. However, the vast majority of this research has been conducted in able-bodied sport, while less is known about the developmental experiences of athletes as they specialize in disability or parasport.

The purpose of this Honours research study is to better understand the developmental experiences of athletes with a physical disability as they specialize in parasport. Participation in this study involves completing a short online questionnaire followed by a virtual interview.

To take part in this study, you must:

• be between the ages of 18-30
• have a physical disability
• have participated (or are participating) in parasport at an elite* level

*For this study, “elite” encompasses both national and provincial level athletes

If you meet these criteria and are interested in learning more about the study, please review the consent form at the following link: https://surveys.acadiau.ca/index.php/334899?lang=en

Research Study_Infographic_Sport Specialization in Disability Sport

Contact

Anna Brogan
Student Researcher
School of Kinesiology, Acadia University
148298b@acadiau.ca

Dr. Matthew Vierimaa
Assistant Professor
School of Kinesiology, Acadia University
Matthew.vierimaa@acadiau.ca

Job Opportunity: Executive Director

The Ontario Para Network is seeking a highly-collaborative, innovative team leader who is adept at building partnerships, strengthening community relationships, and inspiring staff and stakeholders alike to fulfill the role of Executive Director.

Position: Executive Director
Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Reports to: Ontario Para Network Board of Directors

The Ontario Para Network is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or disability.

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Summary:

The Executive Director is the key leadership position for the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA). Under the direction and guidelines set by the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for the implementation of Board policies and strategic plan, and is accountable for all organizational performance including participation on and support of Board committees; building and expanding positive internal and external relationships with volunteers, officials, partner organizations, sponsors, government, etc., and oversight of all programs and services delivered by ONPARA and its members.

The Board delegates to the Executive Director the responsibilities of managing the day-to-day operations including managing programs, services, employees, and finances.

As the ideal candidate as Executive Director of ONPARA, you are a highly-collaborative, innovative team-leader who is adept at building partnerships, strengthening community relationships throughout the province and inspiring staff and stakeholders alike.

Armed with the ability to lead and empower staff through organizational change and growth, you possess strong business acumen and financial management skills, both central to the growth strategy, revenue generation, sponsorship and fund-raising requirements of the organization. Your critical thinking consistently takes on the big picture.

ONPARA will benefit from your success in marketing, partnership sales, business development and revenue growth. You have senior management experience, ideally in the area of business development and financial accountability. Staff development and strategic and operational planning are second nature to you. You have earned a university degree in a relevant discipline (sport, business, administration, marketing & communications, etc.).

Experience in the national/provincial sport system and/or the promotion of adaptive sport is an asset. Previous experience reporting to, or working with, a Board of Directors is an important consideration, as is experience working for an organization with charitable status.

Please review the Job Description for further details about the Executive Director opportunity

Applications must be submitted no later than July 14, 2021 to:
Ontario Para Network
info@onpara.ca

We will be conducting interviews on an ongoing basis as qualified applicants apply and will close applications once a suitable applicant has been identified.

We appreciate the interest of all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

About the Ontario Para Network

Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.

Laura Wilson to Depart Role as ONPARA Executive Director

It’s not goodbye, it’s ‘see you later’

It is with bittersweet emotion that the Ontario Para Network announces the departure of Executive Director Laura Wilson, effective July 2. After seven years in the role and with a strong sense of accomplishment, Laura will be moving on to pursue new opportunities and challenges with another sport organization.

“Words are inadequate to express our appreciation of the passion and devotion Laura has brought to ONPARA over the past seven years. She has truly made a difference by broadening awareness of adaptive sport in Ontario,” said Diane Elliot, President of the Ontario Para Network’s Board of Directors. “We wish her all the best as she embarks on a new adventure.”

When Laura joined ONPARA in 2014 – then called the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association – she was the only employee and found herself with the task of building a team of dedicated individuals to carry out all the responsibilities and programs needed to best serve the wheelchair sports community in Ontario. Slowly but surely, she led the growth and development of the organization, helped strengthen its position and reputation within Ontario and Canada, and worked closely with the Board of Directors to help shape a new identity and future direction for the organization.

Always one to jump in with both feet and never say ‘no’ to an opportunity, Laura has overseen and contributed to a tremendous number of projects, initiatives, and events both large and small that have positively impacted ONPARA and the greater adaptive sports community in Ontario and Canada. In her time as Executive Director, she has been a part of hosting three National Championships, several international wheelchair tennis tournaments, countless local events, and has fulfilled key roles in the delivery of major international competitions – the 2015 Parapan Am Games, 2017 Men’s U23 World Wheelchair Basketball Championship, and the 2017 Invictus Games.

Most visibly, she led the recent rebranding efforts of the organization in 2019, which included a new name and logo alongside a bold, modern, clean, and consistent visual identity to help position ONPARA for future growth. Most importantly, however, was all the behind-the-scenes work, planning, and administrative duties that often went unnoticed yet made the most significant impact and provided the most opportunities to ONPARA members across the province. Time and again, Laura used her creativity and resourcefulness to secure countless grants and capitalize on funding opportunities to help launch, sustain, or grow ONPARA’s programming, services, and staffing capacity. These included targeted initiatives supporting women & girls of all ages and abilities, our provincial teams and high performance athletes, coaches & officials development, improved accessibility, public outreach & education, and equipment purchases and maintenance. The impact Laura has made remains immeasurable and the impression she has left will be long-lasting.

“It’s been my honour to work for such an incredible group of athletes, coaches and volunteers. I’ve had the privilege of working with so many smart, talented and creative individuals and I’m proud of all that we’ve accomplished together. I know the organization is positioned for continued growth and success,” said Wilson.

“Thank you for letting me lead the organization these past seven years and a special thank you to Ken Thom for believing in me. I’m proud of how far we’ve come and will continue cheering the organization’s future achievements and successes,” she added.

ONPARA has begun the search for a new Executive Director. Further information regarding the application process and deadline will be made publicly available shortly.

About the Ontario Para Network

Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.

Research Study: Community Peer Support Among Individuals Living with Spinal Cord Injury

Researchers from the Carleton University Department of Psychology are looking to learn more about the experience with peer support of those with a spinal cord injury and what aspects of peer relationships they find most (or least) valuable.

To participate in this study, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be a community-living individual with a spinal cord injury
• Have received some peer support

For more information, please view the following Informed Consent Form: https://carletonpsych.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_08N9MRRluqSwsTj

Name and Contact Information of Researchers:
Joy McLeod
Carleton University, Department of Psychology
joy.mcleod@carleton.ca                                                                         

Supervisor and Contact Information:
Dr. Chris Davis
Carleton University, Department of Psychology
chris.davis@carleton.ca

I am a Warrior – Candice Combdon

I am a Warrior

How determination and a strong support system helped wheelchair tennis athlete Candice Combdon find her inner strength

by June Jang

Featured in the Fall 2020 issue of ParaSport Magazine

Candice Combdon, 33, is a Team Ontario wheelchair tennis athlete who sees herself as a warrior on and off the court. Growing up with Spina Bifida, a condition that prevents the spinal cord from forming properly, she knew that her life experiences were always going to be a lot different.

 “I do see myself as a warrior. It does really resonate with me because I did have to fight for things I wanted to do. I did have to fight to be included, to be accepted by my peers because the world is not always inclusive, right?” Combdon says.

 Despite being a subdued and shy person who doesn’t like to be in the spotlight, she says she becomes a completely different person whenever she wheels onto the tennis court.

 “When I get out onto the court, it’s like this completely different person shows up. And I’m this athlete. I feel good. I feel confident and I feel happy. I can let out a scream and get angry. I can get excited because I made a good shot. It’s fun for me,” she says.

 Her unquenchable thirst and zeal for life have been evident off the court as well. In fact, she really started to live life without fear and focused on following her heart ever since she had her leg amputated three years ago after living in chronic pain for seventeen years.

 “After my amputation, I was completely a different person. I was so much happier, so much more positive, willing to go out and try different things,” she says.

 And try different things, she did. Since her amputation, she went cliff diving, climbed behind a waterfall, was an extra in a Christmas movie on Netflix and so much more. But the biggest change that took place a year and a half ago when she made the decision to take tennis seriously. 

One of the key aspects that distinguish Combdon from other athletes is that she grew up with little to no experience in sports. Although she spent long hours on the weekends watching tennis games with her mom, a careless but cruel comment from one of her classmates when she was seven kept her away from sports until much later in life.

 “When I played T-ball back when I was a kid, I had one kid who pointed at me and literally said, ‘Ha ha. You can’t run.’ And that terrified me and made me not want to play sports until I was in my twenties,” she says.

People who know anything about Candice will unanimously praise her for her amazing work ethic. Michele May, who has been Combdon’s private tennis coach since September 2019, says coaching Candice stands out as one of her best coaching experiences because of Combdon’s amazing passion, drive and yearning to learn.

 “She’s so passionate and so dedicated to improving that she’s well above most of the other athletes that I have coached. She just wants to improve every single day, so she’ll go above and beyond,” May says.

 May also says Combdon’s willingness to improve has been evident in her unwavering commitment to her training. In addition to two, two-hour training sessions per week with May, Combdon also joins May on court when she coaches at Barrie North Winter Tennis; sometimes three or four times a week for three to four hours at a time.

In fact, Combdon was on the court—albeit on the bench—a week or two after her amputation to watch a wheelchair tennis session. Her determination inspires many, including Laura Wilson, Executive Director at the Ontario Para Network.

 “It’s been so easy to get on board and want to support Candice because she has such a great attitude and positive outlook. She works so damn hard. Here she is now, wanting more and more. She wants to climb as high as she can, and we want to support her  every step of the way,” Wilson says.

While Candice’s first introduction to wheelchair tennis was over 12 years ago at a ‘Have A Go’ Day hosted by ONPARA (then known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association), the lack of readily available resources in her hometown of Newmarket at that time prevented her from training more seriously. Combdon says the most beneficial support she received from ONPARA early on is through their Wheelchair Loans Program, which allows participants to rent costly specialized sports equipment for a low monthly fee as a means of reducing some of the barriers that exist for those just starting out in wheelchair sports. A new sport wheelchair can cost upwards of $5,000, causing sport to be inaccessible to many.

 “I would say an opportunity to have a sports chair [was most beneficial] because they’re not cheap. Had I not had the opportunity to rent a sports chair, there would be no Candice playing wheelchair tennis,” she says.

In addition to providing access to equipment, ONPARA was also able to support Candice in other ways. When the application period opened for the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s 2019-2020 Paralympic Sport Development Fund, ONPARA jumped at the chance and sought funding to support development opportunities for its female wheelchair tennis athletes in the province. Their application was successful and, thanks to the Canadian Paralympic Committee, they were able to send Candice and women’s National Champion, Anne-Marie Dolinar, to the 2020 Indian Wells Tennis Garden Wheelchair Championship in Indian Wells, California this past February.

Combdon says her exposure to an international tournament and coming back home with a doubles trophy in her division gave her the confidence she was lacking.

 “I just came back with this drive to work so much harder because I did so much better than I expected to do. I came home and I was like, ‘I can do this. I think I can do this. Paralympics, if I really apply myself, I work hard, I can really do this,’” she says. “You know, that belief wasn’t there before. It was something to say, ‘Oh, I would like to go to the Paralympics,’ but another thing for me to really believe that I am capable of doing it. And Indian Wells played a huge part in my confidence and my belief in myself to make it, for sure.”

Being well aware that there aren’t a lot of opportunities for female athletes, whether it’s para-athletes or able-bodied athletes, Combdon says the support she’s been receiving from ONPARA makes her want to work harder. “I wouldn’t have the opportunity to be where I am and to do what I am doing, if it weren’t for the help I’m receiving. For sure, I can work as hard as I can work but if I don’t have that extra support, I can’t go anywhere, right?” she says.

Combdon says her support system is the driving force behind her motivation to succeed. She gives credit to the loving support of her family, her amazing teammates who would go out of their way—even if it means giving up points—to help her become a better tennis player, and her tennis sponsor, Robert, whom she has come to consider as a dear friend and a mentor.

 “I give my support system a huge credit for me working hard every day because I know I’m being watched, and people are wanting me to succeed. And that makes me want to succeed because I don’t want to let any of those people down. They’ve all just been amazing. I can’t credit just one specific person” she says.

If there is one thing Combdon would like to share with people with disabilities who are looking for a way to get involved in parasports, it is simply to take a chance and try it.

 “I can’t stress enough how much wheelchair tennis and taking that one chance twelve years ago has changed my life completely. I am a completely different person. I am in a completely different place than I would have ever been in had I not discovered wheelchair tennis,” she says. “It’s just been a monumental, crazy, positive experience for me, and I will forever tell people if you’re not someone who plays sports, go and try a sport because it makes such a difference.” 

Follow @candice_combdon as she continues along her wheelchair tennis journey and help cheer her on along the way.

About the Ontario Para Network

Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.

Caldwell and Combdon Named 2020 ONPARA GivingTuesday Ambassadors

Cody Caldwell

ONPARA Launches 2020 GivingTuesday Campaign

Give the gift of sport & recreation by supporting our ‘Bridging the Gap’ program this GivingTuesday

This GivingTuesday, the Ontario Para Network is continuing to provide sport opportunities for youth and adults with physical disabilities through ‘Bridging the Gap’, our flagship awareness, outreach, and first-involvement program.

ONPARA Receives Jumpstart Sport Relief Fund Grant

In September, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities announced an $8 million sport relief fund to help sport and recreation organizations continue to deliver programming in 2020 and beyond.

Many community organizations have shut their doors due to the financial burden created by COVID-19, including lost revenue and increased program costs. The Ontario Para Network has experienced the impact of the pandemic first-hand.

We recently received confirmation that we are amongst 668 sport and recreation organizations nationally to be provided with grant support through Jumpstart’s Sport Relief Fund. We are beyond grateful to receive this news and know how positive an impact it will have on sport and recreation organizations, and ultimately, on kids across the country.

With Jumpstart’s support, we’ll be able to refocus and reimagine current programming by creating digital content and shifting to a virtual format to deliver our flagship outreach & education and awareness & first involvement initiatives – ‘Bridging the Gap’ and our wheelchair basketball Schools Program – during these trying times.

Along with Jumpstart, we understand the role sport plays in the health and well-being of kids and their families, especially for those with disabilities, and are doing everything possible to help sports continue at the community level.

About the Ontario Para Network

Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow adaptive sport opportunities across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair sports in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in wheelchair athletics, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis at recreational, competitive and high performance levels.

Job Opportunity: Communications Assistant

ONPARA is seeking a creative individual with strong written and verbal communication skills for the role of Communications Assistant. The candidate will support all ONPARA communications and social media activities. This position will appeal to students or recent graduates from a journalism, media, or communications program with a keen interest in sports. The Communications Assistant will work with ONPARA’s staff, athletes, and Director of Communications to create content in support of our athletes and the organization.

Position: Communications Assistant (Internship)
Position Type: Contract – a total of 247 hours must be completed by Dec 31, 2020 (position is being funded through the Summer Experience Program)
Job Region: ON – Toronto, Ontario with possible travel across the Greater Toronto Area
Application Deadline: September 22, 2020

Key Responsibilities:

• Use your creative story-telling skills to create engaging bios, articles, and other content about our athletes and their adaptive sport experiences
• Draft content for email newsletters
• Develop strategies and draft content for social media posts (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram)
• Draft program descriptions for brochures, flyers, and our website
• Gain an understanding of adaptive sports with particular focus on wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis
• Work to develop ideas and offer creative direction in a team-based environment

Qualifications:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Team player with the ability to work independently
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• A solid understanding of social media engagement strategies and the various platforms
• Good attention to detail
• Strong organizational skills and proven ability to manage tight deadlines
• A desire to work with our athletes of all abilities to share their stories
• A desire to produce creative content across multiple platforms
• Flexible schedule as some programs occasionally run in the evenings and on weekends
• Interest in sports and knowledge of adaptive sports such as wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis is an asset

Eligibility:
This position is made possible through funding from the Ontario Summer Experience Program. Applicants must:

• Be currently enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary institution or within six months of graduation
• Be between the ages of 15 and 24 years old (or 29 years old for persons with a disability)
• Be a resident of Ontario during the period of employment
• Be eligible to work in Canada and have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

View the full job posting – Job Posting_Communications Assistant_2020

Interested candidates can submit a resume, cover letter and a link to their social media platforms.
Applicants are invited to include no more than 2 samples of written work.

Applications must be submitted by September 22, 2020 to:
Ontario Para Network
info@onpara.ca

We appreciate the interest of all applicants however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

About the Ontario Para Network

Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow adaptive sport opportunities across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair sports in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in wheelchair athletics, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis at recreational, competitive and high performance levels.